Jersey-Macoupin County IL Archives Biographies.....RHOADS, William Willis May 13, 1872 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
J. Robison normadeplume@wmconnect.com February 7, 2009, 2:41 am

Author: Elizabeth Pegram Lumpkin


From 'History of Macoupin County, Illinois' by Elizabeth Pegram Lumpkin 1911  
                            WILLIAM WILLIS RHOADS
     A member of one of the best known families in Macoupin county, William W. 
RHOADS, of Brighton, has possessed excellent opportunities of becoming 
acquainted with business methods and has been highly successful in the conduct 
of financial affairs.  He was born near Plainview, May 13, 1872, and is now 
entering upon the prime of life with prospects of advancement which point ot 
large activities in years to come.
     His parents are Isaiah and Mary A. (MEEHAN) RHOADS, the former of whom was 
born at Rhoads Point, now Medora, and the latter in Iowa.  Josiah RHOADS, the 
great-grandfather of our subject and his brothers Rev. Jacob, John, Jesse, 
father of Colonel W. C. RHOADS, of Civil war fame, and Rev. Samuel RHOADS, were 
natives of Kentucky and the founders of the family in Macoupin county.  They 
entered government land in Macoupin and Jersey counties, locating their homes 
across the line in Jersey county, and were the first settlers in that portion 
of the state now known as Jersey and Macoupin counties.  The place of their 
location was afterward named Rhoads Point in thier honor.  The family has for 
many years been noted for its religious faith and has contributed eleven 
ministers to the Baptist church.  Edmund and John V. RHOADS, uncles of our 
subject, were very liberal in their contributions to worthy causes and 
contributed thousands of dollars to religious and charitable work.  John V. 
RHOADS was especially noted for his liberality and at one time had as his 
guests the entire Apple Creek Baptist Association, which consisted of several 
hundred persons.
     Isaiah RHOADS, the father of our subject, was born in 1844 on the old 
Chisholm farm, just across the line separating Macoupin from Jersey county.  
This place was a part of the original RHOADS homestead.  The family acquired 
many hundred acres of land just north of Rhoads Point and there established the 
family home, when Isaiah was in his early boyhood.  The latter engaged in 
farming and about 1900 removed to Granite City in order to carry forward under 
more favorable conditions the education of his children.  He and his wife are 
now living at that place.  They are both members of the Baptist church and have 
been prominent factors in the erection of the new church built at Granite 
City........
     On February 14, 1910, Mr. RHOADS was married to Miss Alice T. MOORES, a 
daughter of Frank and Mertie (KELSEY) MOORES, the latter being the eldest 
daughter of John KELSEY, the pioneer settler of the KELSEY family in Brighton 
township.  Mrs. RHOADS was christened in the Episcopal church but attends the 
Methodist Episcopal church

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